Method and system for treating contaminated materials

ABSTRACT

Provided is a method for treating contaminated soil. The method includes providing contaminated soil in a soil chamber that has at least one wall, and at least one floor, at least one heater coupled to or inside of at least one of the walls and at least one substantially elongated floor heater coupled to or in the floor. At least one of the walls at least partially includes a thermally conductive material configured to transfer heat from at least one of the heaters to an interior of the soil chamber. At least one of the walls at least partially encloses an interior of the soil chamber. At least one of the walls can move between a closed position during heating of the soil chamber, and an open position that allows a soil moving vehicle to access an interior of the soil chamber to provide or remove soil to and from the soil chamber unencumbered by piping located within the soil volume. The method also includes heating the contaminated soil within the soil chamber to substantially reduce the level of contaminants in the contaminated soil.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to soil remediation systems andmethods. More particularly embodiments of the present invention relateto systems and method for In-Pile Thermal Desorption (IPTD) in a walland/or floor heated chamber.

2. Description of Related Art

Soil contamination is a matter of concern in many locations. “Soil”refers to unconsolidated and consolidated material in the ground, and tosediment in water bodies such as rivers, harbors and estuaries. Soil mayinclude natural formation material such as dirt, sand, and rock, as wellas fill material. Soil may be contaminated with chemical, biological,and/or radioactive compounds. Dealing with these types of contaminantsof concern (COCs) so as to protect human health and the environmentrepresents a challenge to modern society.

There are many ways to remediate contaminated soil. “Remediating soil”means treating the soil to reduce contaminant levels or mobility withinthe soil or to remove contaminants from the soil. Ex situ methods ofremediating contaminated soil typically include excavating the soil andthen processing the soil in an on-site or off-site treatment facility toreduce contaminant levels within the soil or to remove contaminants fromthe soil. Alternatively, contaminated soil may not be excavated butinstead remediated in place, which is termed “in situ remediation”.

During remediation heat added to contaminated soil may raise thetemperature of the soil above vaporization temperatures of soilcontaminants. If the soil temperature exceeds a vaporization temperatureof a soil contaminant, some or all of the contaminant will vaporize.Thermal desorption is a soil remediation process that involves in situor ex situ heating of contaminated soil. Heating the soil may reducesoil contamination by processes including, but not limited to,vaporization and vapor transport of contaminants from the soil (e.g.,steam distillation), entrainment and removal of contaminants in watervapor and/or a gas stream, thermal degradation (e.g., by pyrolysisand/or hydrolysis), and/or conversion of contaminants into othercompounds by oxidation or other chemical reactions within the soil.During thermal remediation, a vacuum may be applied to the soil toremove off-gas and/or other fluids from the soil. The off-gas and otherfluids may be directed to a storage tank or treatment facility andprocessed to remove contaminants from the extracted fluids or to reducecontaminant levels within the fluids.

Soil may be heated by a variety of methods, both in situ and ex situ.Methods for heating soil include, but are not limited to, heating bydirect firing, convection (e.g., rotary kiln), heating substantially bythermal conduction, heating by steam injection, heating by radiofrequency heating, or heating by electrical soil resistivity heating.Thermal conductive heating (“TCH”) may be advantageous because thetemperature obtainable by thermal conductive heating is not dependent onan amount of water or other polar substance in the soil. Soiltemperatures substantially above the boiling point of water may beobtained using thermal conductive heating, if needed. Soil temperaturesof about 100° C., 200° C., 300° C., 400° C., 500° C. or greater may beobtained using thermal conductive heating. By achieving suchtemperatures, a very wide range of organic contaminants and some metals(e.g., mercury) can be treated and substantially if not completelyremoved from the soil.

Increasingly, excavation and offsite disposal of these contaminants,which involves transferring the contamination to another location, suchas a landfill, is regarded as too costly and detrimental from aliability standpoint. In-Pile Thermal Desorption (IPTD) is an emergingtechnology that treats contaminated soil, sediment or other material inbatches. Soil piles or treatment cells are typically built with heatersor heat pipes installed within the soil volume, after which the piles orcells are covered. The piles or cells are then heated to the targettemperature, and when the goals have been reached, the treated soil isremoved as the heating system is dismantled and moved out of the way.Completing a full cycle of this process typically takes less than twomonths. IPTD can be carried out onsite and is relatively insensitive tothe presence in the waste of high moisture and organic contents, fineparticles, and rocks or debris.

U.S. Patent Publication 2004/0228690 by Stegemeier et al., U.S. Pat. No.6,881,009 by Stegemeier et al., U.S. Pat. No. 7,004,678 by Stegemeier etal., and U.S. Pat. No. 7,534,926 by Stegemeier et al., the entirety ofeach is herein incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein,describes systems and methods for heating contaminated soil.

Current IPTD techniques may include certain difficulties and challenges,such as installing or removing the heating system and gas inlet/vacuumpiping inside the soil volume without later damaging them, readilyaccessing an interior of the cell with a soil loading vehicle, such as abulldozer or dump truck used to deposit and/or remove the soil withoutfirst dismantling each heater or assembly of heaters. Other treatmenttechniques that include heating the soil through injection of a fluidsuch as hot gas can result in uneven heating due to preferential flow ofthe hot gas through higher permeability pathways (e.g., sandy seams,fractures between silty/clayey blocks or aggregates, voids), andbypassing of lower permeability zones, exemplified by silty/clayeyblocks or aggregates.

SUMMARY

Various embodiments of soil remediation systems and related apparatus,and methods of operating the same are described. In one embodiment,provided is a method for treating contaminated soil. The method includesproviding contaminated soil in a soil chamber that has at least one walland at least one floor, at least one heater coupled to or inside of atleast one of the walls and at least one substantially elongated floorheater coupled to or in the floor. At least one of the walls at leastpartially includes a thermally conductive material configured totransfer heat from at least one of the heaters to an interior of thesoil chamber. Two or more of the walls enclose an interior of the soilchamber. At least one of the walls and/or the floor can move between aclosed position during heating of the soil chamber, and an open positionthat allows a soil moving vehicle to access an interior of the soilchamber to provide soil to or remove soil from the soil chamber. Themethod also includes heating the contaminated soil within the soilchamber to substantially reduce the level of contaminants in thecontaminated soil.

In another embodiment, provided is a soil treatment system. The systemincludes a soil chamber that has at least one wall and at least onefloor, at least one heater coupled to or inside of at least one of thewalls and at least one substantially elongated floor heater coupled toor in the floor. At least one of the walls at least partially includes athermally conductive material configured to transfer heat from at leastone of the heaters to an interior of the soil chamber. Two or more ofthe walls enclose an interior of the soil chamber. At least one of thewalls and/or the floor can move between a closed position during heatingof the soil chamber and an open position that allows a soil movingvehicle to access an interior of the soil chamber to provide or removesoil to and from the soil chamber.

In yet another embodiment, provided is a contaminated soil treatmentsystem that includes a soil chamber for containing soil during use. Thesoil chamber includes at least two substantially elongated heaters andone or more heat conducting plates disposed between one or more of thesubstantially elongated heaters and the interior of the chamber suchthat one or more of the substantially elongated heaters is in contact ornear contact with the heat conducting plates. A majority of heatprovided to the soil chamber originates from one or more of thesubstantially elongated heaters that are separated from the interior ofthe soil chamber by one or more heat conducting plates. At least one ofthe walls and/or the floor can move between a closed position duringheating of the soil chamber, and an open position that allows a soilmoving vehicle to access an interior of the soil chamber to provide soilto or remove soil from the soil chamber.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Advantages of the present invention will become apparent to thoseskilled in the art with the benefit of the following detaileddescription and upon reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagram that illustrates a soil treatment system including asoil chamber system having heaters installed within its walls inaccordance with one or more embodiments of the present technique.

FIG. 2A is a cross-section view of the soil chamber system taken acrossline 2-2 of FIG. 1 in accordance with one or more embodiments of thepresent technique.

FIGS. 2B-2C illustrate the soil chamber system in accordance with one ormore embodiments of the present technique.

FIG. 3A is a diagram that illustrates the soil chamber system includingadjacent soil chambers having a shared wall in accordance with one ormore embodiments of the present technique.

FIGS. 3B-3C illustrates the soil chamber in accordance with one or moreembodiments of the present technique.

FIG. 4A is a diagram that illustrates the soil chamber system includingat least a portion of the walls that is movable in accordance with oneor more embodiments of the present technique.

FIG. 4B is a diagram that illustrates a movable floor in accordance withone or more embodiments of the present technique.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart that illustrates a method of remediatingcontaminated soil in accordance with one or more embodiments of thepresent technique.

FIG. 6 is a diagram that illustrates a heater in accordance with one ormore embodiments of the present technique.

FIG. 7 is a diagram that illustrates a heater arrangement in accordancewith one or more embodiments of the present technique.

While the invention is susceptible to various modifications andalternative forms, specific embodiments thereof are shown by way ofexample in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. Thedrawings may not be to scale. It should be understood, however, that thedrawings and detailed description thereto are not intended to limit theinvention to the particular form disclosed, but to the contrary, theintention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternativesfalling within the spirit and scope of the present invention as definedby the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

As discussed in more detail below, certain embodiments of the presenttechnique include a system and method for remediation of soil.Embodiments include In-Pile Thermal Desorption (IPTD) techniques toremove contaminants from the soil. In certain embodiments, a soiltreatment system includes a soil chamber used to heat the soil. In someembodiments, heaters are installed in the walls and/or floors of thesoil chamber. In some embodiments, at least a portion of the wallsand/or floors include (e.g., the walls and/or floor are attached to ormade of) a thermally conductive layer that is positioned between theheaters and an interior of the soil chamber and/or the soil containedtherein. In some embodiments, the thermally conductive layer includesone or more metal plates or sheets. The thermally conductive layertransfers heat from the heaters to the soil during use. In someembodiments, multiple soil chambers are provided adjacent one anothersuch that adjacent chambers share a common wall. In some embodiments,the chamber includes one or more movable walls that allow soil movingequipment to access an interior of the soil chamber for the depositionand removal of soil. In some embodiments, the soil treatment systemincludes a ventilation system that allows the flow of gas into and outof the soil chamber during use. In some embodiments, the soil chamberincludes a fluid collection system for injecting, trapping, or removingcondensate or other fluids. During use, heating of the soil chamberprovides a desired distribution of heat to the contaminated soil toeffectively provide for the removal of contaminants. Further, in certainembodiments, the location of heaters within the walls and/or floorsenables soil loading and unloading equipment (including but not limitedto vehicles such as front-end loaders, bulldozers and dump trucks) towork without significant restrictions within the interior of the soilchamber.

FIG. 1 is a diagram that illustrates a soil treatment system 100including a soil chamber system 110 having heaters 112 installed withinits walls, in accordance with one or more embodiments of the presenttechnique. Soil treatment system 100 includes soil chamber system 110, aventilation system 114, a fluid system 116, and a control system 118.Soil treatment system 100 may be used to heat soil to removecontaminants therein.

Soil chamber system 110 may include one or more soil chambers for theremediation of soil. For example, as illustrated in dashed lines, soilchamber system 110 may include more than one soil chamber 120. Each soilchamber 120 includes an enclosed region in which a pile of soil can bedeposited. In one embodiment, soil is deposited into soil chamber 120,heaters 112 transfer heat into the soil, raising the soil's temperatureto a target level, certain contaminants are vaporized and removed andtreated via the ventilation system 114, runoff fluids may be collectedand treated via fluid system 116, and the remediated soil is cooled andremoved from the soil chamber.

Ventilation system 114 may be used to inject gas into soil chambersystem 110 and soil contained therein. The injection of gas such as airmay facilitate oxidation and removal of contaminants during heating. Inone embodiment, a ventilation system 114 is capable of providing avacuum to soil chamber system 110. The vacuum may remove vaporizedcontaminants from the soil and transport the vapors to an off-gastreatment system. In the illustrated embodiment, ventilation system 114includes one or more conduits in communication with soil chamber system110 for supplying gas to and removing gas from the soil chamber system110. As described in more detail below, ventilation system 114 mayinclude one or more conduits positioned internally to soil chambersystem 110, such as ventilation conduits, inlets, outlet, and screens.In one embodiment, components of ventilation system 114 are installed inthe walls and/or floor of soil chamber 120 of soil chamber system 110.Positioning a portion of the ventilation system in the walls may enableinjected gas to be distributed into the soil from one or more interiorwalls of soil chamber 120, and/or gas to be removed (e.g., vacuumed)from one or more interior walls of soil chamber 120 with minimal impactto filling or emptying the soil chamber 120.

In one embodiment, ventilation system 114 includes an off-gas collectionpiping system and treatment system. The off-gas collection piping may beun-heated piping that conducts off-gas and condensate to the treatmentfacility. Alternatively, the off-gas collection piping may be heatedpiping that inhibits condensation of off-gas within the collectionpiping. In some embodiments, off-gas collection piping may be or mayinclude metal piping, fiberglass piping, polymer piping, flexible hose,or the like. The off-gas collection piping system may be utilized fortransporting the off-gas removed from the soil to the off-gas treatmentsystem for polishing. The off-gas treatment system may remove or destroycontaminants within the off-gas to acceptable levels. The off-gastreatment facility may include a reactor system, such as a thermaloxidizer, to eliminate contaminants or to reduce contaminants within theoff-gas to acceptable levels. Alternatively, the treatment system mayuse a mass transfer system, such as passing the off-gas throughactivated carbon beds, to eliminate contaminants or to reducecontaminants within the off-gas to acceptable levels. Alternatively, theoff-gas treatment system may include a condensing system to condensecontaminants and water out of the off-gas stream for subsequenttreatment and/or disposal. A combination of a reactor system and a masstransfer system may also be used to eliminate contaminants or to reducecontaminants within the off-gas to acceptable levels.

Fluid system 116 may be used to introduce fluids to or remove fluidsfrom the soil contained in soil chamber system 110. In one embodiment,fluid system 116 may be used to provide water for cooling the soil afterheating and contaminant removal. For example, fluid system 116 mayprovide water to quench high soil temperature. In one embodiment, thesoil pile is uncovered, fluid system 116 sprays water on the top of,and/or within the body of the uncovered soil pile or delivers water viagas inlet/vapor extraction piping of ventilation system 114 that are atleast partially located in the walls of the soil chamber, or a separateconduit system. As water is added to the heated soil, it may flash tosteam, producing an innocuous and diffuse vapor plume. In oneembodiment, water may be added to soil to reintroduce moisture into thesoil that may be dry (e.g., non-cohesive and therefore difficult tohandle) after being heated.

In one embodiment, fluid system 116 includes, liners, channels, drains,conduit, pumps and the like that can be used to inject and/or removefluids from soil chamber system 110. In one embodiment, fluid system 116includes drains and pumps (e.g., a sump pump) that collect and removeliquids that accumulate at the bottom of the soil chamber, also referredto as leachate. In one embodiment, the collected fluids may be routed toa leachate treatment system for treatment of the fluids. In oneembodiment, a lower portion of soil chamber 120, such as a floor, mayslope and include a drain and/or pump that allows for the removal ofleachate.

Control system 118 may include instrumentation and power control systemsused to monitor and control the soil chamber 110, ventilation system114, and/or fluid system 116. In one embodiment, control system 118 isused to monitor and control the heating rate of soil chamber 110. Forexample, electrical heaters of soil chamber system 110 may requirecontrollers to adjust and control the power to the heaters. The type ofcontroller may be dependent on the type of electricity used to power theheaters. For example, a silicon controlled rectifier may be used tocontrol power applied to a heater. In one embodiment, control system 118monitors and controls the vacuum applied to the soil and the operationof the off-gas treatment system. In some embodiments, the use ofcontrollers may not be necessary.

FIG. 2A is a cross-section view of soil chamber system 110 taken acrossline 2-2 of FIG. 1, in accordance with one or more embodiments of thepresent technique. In the illustrated embodiment, soil chamber system110 includes soil chamber 120, having soil chamber walls 122, soilchamber floor 124, soil chamber cover 126, and soil 130. In oneembodiment, soil chamber 120 may have an interior width that is greaterthan about two meters and a height that is greater than about one meter.In one embodiment, soil chamber 120 may be rectangular shaped having awidth of about five meters, a length of about thirty meters, and aheight of about four meters.

In the illustrated embodiment, walls 122 and floor 124 include heaters132, vents 134, and a thermally conducting layer 136. Thermallyconducting layer 136 is positioned between heaters 132 and soil 130. Inthe illustrated embodiment, thermally conducting layer 136 inhibitscontact between heaters 132 and soil 130. In one embodiment, heaters 132are in contact or near contact with thermally conducting layer 136 suchthat heat is transferred to the thermally conducting layer 136 viaconduction. Thus, substantially all of the heat transferred from heater132 to thermally conducting layer 136 is transferred via thermalconduction. During heating, heat may be transferred from heater 132,flow conductively through the plane containing the thermally conductinglayer 136, and into soil 130. In one embodiment, thermally conductinglayer 136 includes a planar member/surface of wall 122 that distributesheat. Thus, the combination of heater 132 and thermally conducting layer136 may provide a planar heat source, as opposed to a linear heat sourcethat may otherwise be provided by narrow elongate heaters 132 that arenot separated from soil 130 via a planar conducting layer.

Thermally conducting layer 136 may include a planar member, such as ametal (e.g., carbon steel or stainless steel) plate or sheet. In oneembodiment, thermally conducting layer 136 may include a plurality ofsheets, plates, or strips. In one embodiment, thermally conductive layerincludes plates that cover a substantial area of the interior of wall122. In one embodiment, thermally conducting layer 136 includes strips(e.g., elongate sheets of metal) that are provided along a length of theinterior of wall 122. The strips may run adjacent to each of heaters 132in one embodiment. For example, an interior surface of soil chamberwalls 122 and/or floor 124 may include multiple elongated sheetsextending along the length of soil chamber 120 proximate one or more ofthe heater locations.

In the illustrated embodiment, thermally conducting layer 136 forms theinterior surface of soil chamber 120. For example, thermally conductinglayer 136 is positioned on an interior surface of walls 122 and/or floor124 such that it is in direct contact with soil 130. In one embodiment,conducting layer 136 spans more than about ten percent, twenty-fivepercent, fifty percent, seventy-five percent or a majority of the wallsurface area at the interior of chamber 120. In other embodiments,additional layers of walls 122 and/or floor 124 may be positionedbetween thermally conducting layer 136 and the interior of soil chamber120 and/or soil 130 contained in soil chamber 120. For example,thermally conducting layer 136 may include an interior layer of walls122 and/or floor 124 wherein a coating, another layer of wall 122, anadditional thermally conducting plate, or a combination thereof ispositioned between thermally conductive layer 136 and the interior ofsoil chamber 120 and/or soil 130 contained in soil chamber 120.

Thermally conducting layer 136 may be formed to promote the conductionof heat from heaters 132 to soil 130. In one embodiment, thermallyconducting layer 136 has a thermal conductivity that is about the sameor greater than that of soil, carbon steel, and/or aluminum. Forexample, thermally conductive layer 136 may be formed of concrete,carbon steel, stainless steel, aluminum, copper or a composite materialhaving a sufficient effective thermal conductivity. The thermalconductivity may be greater than other materials proximate an exteriorof wall 122 such that thermal conduction is promoted inward into thesoil as opposed to outward toward an exterior of soil chamber system110.

Any number of heaters 132 may be provided in walls 122 and/or floor 124.In the illustrated embodiment, four heaters 132 are provided in wall 122and eight heaters 132 are provided in floor 124. Other embodiments mayinclude one, two, three, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten or moreheaters in wall 122 and/or floor 124. For example, two elongate heatersmay be provided in each wall 122 and/or each floor 124 of soil chambers120.

Heaters 132 may be arranged such that heat is distributed substantiallyevenly to thermally conducting layer 136. In an embodiment, heat can beconducted via thermally conducting layer to provide a relatively evendistribution of heat to soil 130. In one embodiment, heaters 132 arespaced from about one meter (1 m) to about two meters (2 m) from oneanother. Other embodiments may include any suitable spacing betweenheaters 132. For example, heaters 132 may be spaced about 0.1 m, 0.2 m,0.3 m, 0.4 m, 0.5 m, 0.6 m, 0.7 m, 0.8 m, 0.9 m, 1.5 m, 2.5 m, 3 m ormore apart. In the illustrated embodiment, heaters 132 are evenly spacedfrom one another along the height of wall 122 and width of floor 124.Other embodiments may include uneven spacing, graduated spacing, or thelike. Various spacing may be used to help even out the distribution ofheat transferred to soil 130. For example, more heaters may be placednear a lower portion of wall 122 and/or floor 124 to account for heatrising through soil 130 during heating.

Heaters 132 may include any variety of heating devices. For example,heaters may include electrically powered heaters, gas heaters,pressurized high-temperature steam lines, or any other suitable heatsource. Heaters 132 may include commercial nichrome/magnesium oxidetubular heaters with Inconel 601 sheaths operated at temperatures up toabout 1250° C. Alternatively, heaters 132 may include silicon carbide orlanthanum chromate “glow-bar” heater elements, carbon electrodes, ortungsten/quartz heaters could be used for still higher temperatures. Inone embodiment, heaters 132 are elongated heaters. Elongate heaters 132may include an elongate rod that is capable of being slid into housing.In one embodiment, as depicted in FIG. 6, heaters 132 include anelongate solid 310 stainless steel rod 132 a having a diameter of aboutthree-eighths of an inch or a 400-series stainless steel rod 132 ahaving a diameter of approximately one inch, and having ceramicspacers/disc 132 b, and that can be placed (e.g., slid) into a housing132 c having an internal width of about three inches. Housing 132 c maybe inserted into and/or coupled to wall 122 and/or floor 124.

Returning to FIG. 2A, in the illustrated embodiment, elongated heaters132 run horizontally along the wall 122, substantially parallel with asurface of walls 122, floor 124 and ground. In other words, elongatedheaters run perpendicular to the plane of the page when viewing FIG. 2A.In one embodiment, heaters 132 include two or more heaters coupled toone another to form an elongated heater. For example, where a wall isfifty meters in length, two twenty-five meter heaters may be coupled toone another to form a single fifty meter elongated heater 132 that spanssubstantially all of the length of the wall.

In the illustrated embodiment, one or more heaters 132 are arrangedsubstantially horizontally along a length of walls 122 and arecompletely contained within walls 122 such that they do not extend intoan interior of soil chamber 120. In one embodiment one or more heaters132 may be arranged vertically, or at any other angle within walls 122and/or floor 124. For example, one or more of heaters 132 may beoriented vertically or at an angle. In some embodiments, heaters 132 mayreside partly within the walls 122 and partly beyond the plane of soilchamber 120. For example, one or more heaters 132 may intrude width-wisepartly from walls 122 into an interior of soil chamber 120. In someembodiments, one or more additional heaters, and/or portions of heaters132 may reside in an interior of soil chamber 120.

Heaters 132 may include at least a portion of their surface (e.g., aheating element or housing) in direct contact with thermally conductinglayer 136. In one embodiment heaters 132 are urged into contact via amechanical fastener, such as a clamp, or a biasing mechanism, such as aspring. In one embodiment, heaters 132 are adhered to thermallyconducting layers 136 walls via an adhesive or similar layer. Directcontact or near contact between heaters 132 and steel plate may providefor an efficient transfer of heat to thermally conducting layer 136. Inone embodiment an enclosure around the heating element may help todirect radiant heat to thermally conducting layer 136.

Vents 134 include paths for the flow of fluids into and out of soilchamber 120. In one embodiment, vents 134 include conduit that extendthrough wall 122 and/or floor 124 and that terminate into soil chamber120. In one embodiment, vents 134 include conduit in communication withopenings in an interior of walls 122 and/or floor 124. In otherembodiments, the portions of vents 134 that face the soil are composedof porous concrete, metal screen or perforated channels. Vents 134 andassociated conduits may be portions of ventilation system 114 and/orfluid treatment system 116. Vents 134 may be used for the flow orinjection of air or other gases into soil chamber 120, the flow orvacuum of gas out of soil chamber 120, the flow or injection of liquids,such as water, into soil chamber 120 and the flow or pumping of liquids,such as water, out of soil chamber 120. In the illustrated embodiments,a vent 134 a is depicted provided above the pile of soil 130 in chamber120. Vent 134 a may be coupled to and/or integral with soil chambercover 126. Vent 134 a may be located in the soil pile. Vent 134 a mayinclude a conduit/passage for vacuuming off-gas from soil chamber 120and/or for the flow of gas into and out of soil chamber 120. In oneembodiment, vent 134 includes a conduit/passage that extends through anend wall that extends between side walls 122. Vent 134 may include aconduit/passage that terminates at or near a surface of the wall or thatextends into soil chamber 120.

Walls 122 and/or floor 124 may include various arrangements to providefor the location and retention of components, such as heaters 132, vents134, and thermally conducting layer 136. In one embodiment, walls 122include a hollow framed region. For example, in the illustratedembodiment, a central portion 122 a of walls 122 and a central portion124 a of floor 124 are substantially void of material. At least aportion of an interior/chamber side of wall 122 and/or floor 124 isformed by thermally conducting layer 136, and heaters 132 and vents 134are positioned in the central region 122 a/124 a on or near an exteriorside of thermally conducting layer 136. In one embodiment, centralportion 122 a/124 a includes structural components, such as a solidmaterial positioned therein, that forms a portion of wall 122. Forexample, in one embodiment, central portion 122 may be formed fromconcrete, having heater 132 and/or vents 134 positioned therein andthermally conducting layer 136 positioned proximate an interior surfaceof soil chamber 120. In one embodiment, walls 122 may include metalstructures and/or supports. For example, in one embodiment, walls 122may include sheet pile. Sheet pile may include corrugated steel panelsthat are interlocked or welded to one another.

Soil chamber system 110 may include insulation 140. Insulation 140 maybe used to inhibit the loss of heat from soil chamber 120. For example,during heating of soil 130 in soil chamber 120, insulation 140 may helpto inhibit heat from escaping via walls 122, floor 124, soil chambercover 126 or similar portion of soil chamber system 110. Insulation 140may help to direct heat from heaters 132 toward conducting plate 136 andthe interior of soil chamber 120.

In the illustrated embodiment, insulation 140 is positioned on anexterior of walls 122 and floor 124. Insulation 140 may include mineralwool, fiberglass and/or perlite, vermiculate, light weight insulatingconcrete, foam batting, mats, blocks or sheets, spray on-foam, or thelike provided on and around a portion or substantially all of anexterior of soil chamber 120 and other portions of soil chamber system110. In one embodiment, insulation 140 may be substantially affixed ormay be removable. For example, in one embodiment, insulation 140 mayinclude sheets of insulation that can be coupled to and removed fromwalls 122 and floor 124. Such an embodiment may enable simplifiedreplacement of insulation 140, simplified construction of soil chambersystem 110, and/or simplified disassembly and reassembly of soil chambersystem 110 for portable transport from one location to another. In oneembodiment, insulation may be formed integral with wall 122. Forexample, insulation 140 may be provided in central portions 122 a and/or124 a. In the illustrated embodiment, soil chamber cover 126 includes alayer of insulation 140 integrally formed therein. In other embodiments,soil chamber cover 126 may include a layer of insulation 140 along withother layers or portions of soil chamber cover 126.

Soil chamber cover 126 may be configured to enclose a top/opening ofsoil chamber 120. Soil chamber cover 126 may inhibit the loss of heatfrom soil chamber 120. Soil chamber cover 126 may inhibit the transferof substances into and out of soil chamber 120. For example, soilchamber cover 126 may provide a barrier that inhibits external debrisand substances, such as rain water, from entering soil chamber 120,fluid loss from the soil to the atmosphere, and/or heat loss to theatmosphere. In the illustrated embodiment, soil chamber cover 126includes a barrier layer 126 a. Insulation 140 is positioned on top ofbarrier layer 126 a. In one embodiment, barrier layer 126 a includes arigid or flexible structure capable of spanning the distance betweenwalls 122. In one embodiment barrier layer 126 a includes a flexibleplastic or composite sheet. In one embodiment, barrier layer 126 aincludes a rigid structure, such as a rigid plastic, composite, or metalsheet or plate. In one embodiment, soil chamber cover 126 may bepermeable, semi-permeable, or impermeable. Various levels ofpermeability may be used to control the transfer of substances into andout of soil chamber 120. For example soil chamber cover 126 may bepermeable or semi-permeable when it is desirable for moisture to escapesoil chamber 120 via cover 126. Soil chamber cover 126 may beimpermeable when it is desirable for moisture to remain in soil chamber120, and to inhibit moisture from entering soil chamber 120. Forexample, soil chamber cover 126 may be substantially impermeable, andthus ventilation of soil chamber 120 may be provided primarily orcompletely via ventilation system 114 and fluid system 116.

Soil chamber cover 126 may be removable to expose an opening in a top ofsoil chamber 120. In one embodiment, soil chamber cover 126 may rest onupper portion of walls 122 such that cover may be lifted, slid, orrolled off for removal. In another embodiment, soil cover may be affixedto walls 122. For example, soil chamber cover 122 may be removablyaffixed to soil chamber walls 122 via mechanical fasteners, such asbolts, clips, clamps or an adhesive. Soil chamber cover 126, may belifted, slid, folded, or rolled open to expose a top opening in soilchamber 120. In one embodiment, soil chamber cover is rolled from afront end of soil chamber 120 to a rear end of soil chamber. In oneembodiment, soil chamber cover 126 is not readily removable. Forexample, in one embodiment, soil chamber cover 126 is affixed to orformed integral with walls 122 such that it is not removable withoutsignificant effort or damage to soil chamber 120.

In the illustrated embodiment, soil chamber cover 126 does not includeany heaters or vents, or thermally conducting plates. In one embodiment,soil chamber cover 126 may include heaters, vents and/or conductingplates. For example, soil chamber may include heaters and/or ventsinside of or on top of barrier 126 of soil chamber cover 126. In oneembodiment, barrier layer 126 or another portion of soil chamber cover126 includes a thermally conducting layer separating the heaters and/orvent from an interior of soil chamber 120. Heaters and vents may bearranged substantially similar to those depicted and described withregard to walls 122 and floor 124. In an embodiment, heating and gasflow (e.g., vacuuming) may be provided via cover. Providing heat mayinhibit condensation of contaminants on and in soil adjacent to soilchamber cover 126.

During use, soil 130 may be piled with a crown in the middle, betweenwalls 122. In one embodiment, a soil chamber cover 126 can bedraped/placed over the crown in the pile, creating a similar crown shapein soil chamber cover 126 that facilitates debris and rainwater runningoff toward walls 122. In one embodiment, a debris and/or runoffcollection trough is provided at walls 122 to collect and channel awaydebris and/or runoff. For example, on one embodiment, a gutter isprovided at a top interior portion of walls 122 where cover is attachedto walls 122 such that rainwater can be channeled off and away from soilchamber 120.

In one embodiment, cover 126 includes a taper/slope. A taper or slopemay encourage fluid and debris to shed from cover 126, as opposed tocollecting and potentially sagging cover 126. In one embodiment, a slopeof cover 126 extends over a single soil chamber 120. For example, cover126 may include a rigid or flexible cover having a peak in its centerthat slopes to its edges. In one embodiment, a slope of cover extendsover a series of adjacent soil chambers 120.

In one embodiment walls 122 and/or floor 124 may be sealed. Such anembodiment may inhibit moisture and/or gases from being transferred intoor out of soil chamber 120. For example, a sealed floor 124 may enableleachate to be collected at the bottom of chamber 120 without runningoff or out of chamber 120 into the surrounding environment.

In one embodiment, soil chamber 120 may not include a substantial floor124 at its base. For example, wall may be erected over land or a similarunsealed base region. In such an embodiment, soil in the chamber as wellas substances in the base of soil chamber 120 may be heated. Forexample, the ex situ soil pile in soil chamber 120 and the in situ soilbelow may be heated simultaneously.

In one embodiment, soil chamber 120 may include one or more measurementdevices and/or access or measurement devices. In one embodiment,measurement devices may include thermocouples. For example, in theillustrated embodiment, thermocouples 142 are positioned in walls 122,floor 124 and cover 126. Other embodiments may include any number ofthermocouples or similar measurement devices or probes positionedthroughout soil chamber system 110.

In one embodiment, ports 144 provide access into an interior of soilchamber 120. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, a port 144 islocated in cover 126. Port 126 includes a hole that enables devices,such as a thermocouple, probe or soil sampling device, to be insertedinto an interior of soil chamber 120. In one embodiment, port 144includes a cover/plug that can be installed/uninstalled to enableaccess. Other embodiments may include any number of ports 144 in soilchamber system 110. For example, ports 144 may be provided in walls 122and/or floors 124.

Embodiments may include any combination of the features described above.For example, the illustrated embodiment includes heaters, vents, and athermally conducting layer 136 positioned in each of two side walls 122and floor 124, and insulation 140 on an exterior. Other embodiments mayinclude heaters, vents, or thermally conducting layer, and/or insulationin any combination of the walls (including side and end walls), floorand cover that surround chamber 120. For example, one wall may includeonly heaters and a thermally conducting layer, while another wall mayinclude vents with no heaters or thermally conducting layer. In oneembodiment, heaters, vents, and/or a thermally conducting layer may notbe provided in walls 122 and/or floor 124. In one embodiment, one wallmay include heaters and/or vents that act as contiguous soil chambers.

In one embodiment, soil chamber 120 is defined by walls 122 thatcompletely surround it. For example, in one embodiment, soil chamber 120includes a rectangular shape having four walls 122, including side andend walls. In another embodiment, soil chamber 122 may not be completelysurrounded by walls 122. For example, in one embodiment, soil chamber120 may include a channel defined by two parallel side walls spacedopposite and apart from one another. In such an embodiment, one or bothof the end walls may not be provided. In other words, soil chamber 120may include a channel enclosed on two sides and having two open ends, orenclosed on three sides and having one open end. Other embodiments mayinclude any shape soil chamber. For example, soil chamber 120 may beenclosed by a single contiguous wall (e.g., having a circular shape).

In one embodiment, soil chamber 120 is positioned on or above a groundsurface. For example, soil chamber may be positioned on a soil pad, aconcrete pad, an asphalt pad, a parking lot, or the like. In oneembodiment, soil chamber 120 may be positioned at least partially belowground level. For example, soil chamber 120 may be positioned completelyor partially in a pit, hole, basement, vault or channel. For example,floor 124 may be positioned below ground level, and walls 122 may extendup to and/or above the ground surface. Such an embodiment may enable theground to provide structural support and insulating properties to soilchamber system 110.

FIGS. 2B-2C illustrate soil chamber system 110 in accordance with one ormore embodiments of the present technique. In the illustratedembodiment, soil chamber system 110 is positioned on a ground surface.In the illustrated embodiment, soil chamber system 110 includes a singlesoil chamber 120 defined by four walls (note nearest end wall not showndue to sectional view). In the illustrated embodiment, each wall 122 andfloor 124 includes two heaters 132. In the illustrated embodiments,heaters 132 are spaced at increments of about one-third of theheight/width of the respective walls 122 and floor 124. In theillustrated embodiment, cover 126 is tapered/sloped to include a centralpeak that slopes down over top edges of walls 122. The illustratedembodiment also includes multiple ports 144 positioned in walls 122 andcover 126 of soil chamber 120. Further, soil chamber 120 includesbuttresses 146 positioned about the exterior of walls. Buttresses 146may provide additional structural support to walls 122 such that theycan effectively contain soil within soil chamber 120. Embodiments mayalso include buttresses or similar structural supports positioned in aninterior of soil chamber 120. In the illustrated embodiment, a vent 134a is located in a top portion of soil 130 just below cover 126. Vent 134a may be used to vent/vacuum off-gases as they rise through soil 130. Inthe illustrated embodiment, soil chamber 120 is completely filled withsoil 130 such that soil 130 abuts an underside of cover 126.

In another embodiment, multiple soil chamber systems 110 and/or soilchambers 120 may be provided adjacent to one another. For example, asoil chamber system 110 may include two soil chambers 120 arrangedend-to-end adjacent one another. In such an embodiment, the two soilchambers 120 may share a common end wall. The end wall may includeheaters, vents, thermally conducting layer(s) and/or insulation.Similarly, multiple soil chambers 120 may be provided side-by-sideadjacent to one another (See FIG. 1). Further, embodiments may includean array of three or more soil chambers 120 arranged both adjacentlyside-by-side and end-to-end with one another. For example, foursquare/rectangular soil chambers may be provided in a square arrangementsuch that they are each share a common wall with an adjacent chambersadjacent one end and one side. Use of a common wall may decreasecomplexity and increase efficiency of a soil chamber system 110 byenabling a single wall and/or single set of heaters to provide heat tosoil in adjacent chambers on either side of a wall.

FIG. 3A is a diagram that illustrates a soil chamber system 110 havingadjacent soil chambers 120 a and 120 b having a shared/common wall 123in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present technique. Inthe illustrated embodiment, two chambers 120 a and 120 b are arrangedside-by-side having shared wall 123 provided between them. In theillustrated embodiment, shared wall 123 includes heaters 132, vents 134,and thermally conducting layers 136. Thermally conducting layers 136 arelocated on both sides of shared wall 123 forming an interior surface ofchambers 120 a and 120 b. Heaters 132 and vents 134 are positionedbetween the two thermally conducing layers 136. Thermally conductinglayers 136 may inhibit contact between soil 130 in chambers 120 a and120 b. Shared wall 123 may include these and other features similar tothose described above with respect to walls 122.

In the illustrated embodiment, each of heaters 132 positioned in sharedwall 123 is in contact or near contact with thermally conducting layers136. Thus, a single heater 134 may conduct heat to the two thermallyconducting layers 136 simultaneously. In one embodiment, the distancebetween thermally conducting layers 136 may be about the same width ofheater 132, such that heater 132 is in contact or near contact with oneor both thermally conducting layers 136 of shared wall 123. Heaters 132may thus provide heat to soil 130 in one or both of soil chambers 120 aand 120 b simultaneously. Heaters 132 that provide heat to adjacentchambers may be referred to as shared heaters. In the illustratedembodiment, a single column of shared heaters 132 a are provided insideof shared wall 123.

Shared wall 123 may include one or more heaters that are arranged toprovide heat to only one, but not both of the adjacent chambers. In oneembodiment, heaters 132 may be provided in contact or near contact withthermally conducing layer 136 adjacent chamber 120 a, but not in contactor near contact, or insulated from thermally conducing layer 136adjacent chamber 120 b, or vice versa. In one embodiment, two columns ofheaters 132 a may be provided, one column in contact with each ofthermal conducting layers 136 adjacent soil chambers 120 a and 120 b,respectively. Such an arrangement may enable shared resources andstructures of walls, such as the structure itself, insulation, andwiring, while still enabling control over heat being delivered to aspecific chamber. For example, one chamber may be filled with soil andheated while the adjacent chamber is being emptied, filled, or cleanedfor a separate remediation procedure, thus enabling alternating cyclingof remediation. Similar cycling may be performed even when chambers haveshared heaters.

In the illustrated embodiment, a series of vents 134 is positioned inshared wall 123. Vents 134 may service (e.g., provide gas/fluid flow) toone or both of soil chambers 120 a and 120 b simultaneously. Vents 134that service adjacent chambers may be referred to as shared vents. Inthe illustrated embodiment, a single column of shared vents 134 a areprovided inside of shared wall 123.

Shared wall 123 may include one or more shared vents 134 a that arearranged to provide gas/fluid flow to only one, or a combination of theadjacent chambers. In one embodiment, vents 134 may includeinlets/outlets to chamber 120 a or chamber 120 b. In one embodiment, twocolumns of vents 134 a may be provided, each column servicing soilchambers 120 a and 120 b, respectively. Such an arrangement may enableshared resources and structures of walls, such as the structure itself,insulation, and wiring, while still enabling control over gas flow to aspecific chamber. For example, one chamber may be injected with gaswhile the adjacent chamber is provided with a vacuum to collect off-gas.Such an embodiment may be useful where two adjacent chambers areoperating at different portions of a soil remediation cycle and mayrequire different ventilation schemes.

Other portions of soil chamber system 110, such as walls 122, sharedwall 123, floors 124, and soil chamber covers 126 may include featuressuch as those described herein with respect to other embodiments. In theillustrated embodiment, two chambers are arranged side-by-side such thatshared wall 123 is a shared side wall. In another embodiment, twochambers may be arranged end-to-end such that shared wall 123 is ashared end wall. Further, the illustrated embodiments includes a soilchamber system 110 including two chambers arranged adjacent one anotherand having a shared wall. Other embodiments, may include one or moresoil chamber systems 110 including any number of soil chambers 120arranged side-by-side, end-to-end, or in any combination thereof.

During filling and emptying of chambers 120 and/or 120 a, soil may bemoved away from interior wall 122. For example, if soil 130 is removedfrom soil chamber 120 a, soil 130 in soil chamber 120 b may exert aforce against interior wall 122. To counteract the force, additionalstructural support, such as buttresses, collar ties, clamps or othertemporary supports may be added at interior wall 122 and/or shared wall123. The forces may be dealt with by certain methods of loading andunloading soil 130. For example, in one embodiment, soil for each of thechambers is unloaded in coordination to maintain complementary forces oneither side of the wall. For example, instead of completely emptying onesoil chamber, each soil chamber may be incrementally emptied such thatsoil is generally present or removed on opposite sides of interior wall122.

FIGS. 3B-3C illustrate soil chamber 120 in accordance with one or moreembodiments of the present technique. In the illustrated embodiment,soil chamber 120 is positioned on a ground surface. In the illustratedembodiment, soil chamber system 110 includes two soil chambers 120 a and120 b, each defined by four walls (note nearest end wall not shown dueto sectional view). In the illustrated embodiment, each wall 122 andfloor 124 includes two heaters 132. In the illustrated embodiments,heaters 132 are spaced about increments of one-third of the height/widthof the respective walls 122 and floor 124. In the illustratedembodiment, a single cover 126 is provided over both soil chambers 120 aand 120 b. Cover 126 is tapered/sloped to include a central peak thatslopes down over top edges of outside side walls 122. The illustratedembodiment also includes multiple ports 144 positioned in walls 122 andcover 126 of soil chamber system 110. Further, soil chamber system 110includes buttresses 146 positioned about the exterior of walls.Buttresses 146 may provide additional structural support to walls 122such that they can effectively contain soil within soil chamber 120.Embodiments may also include buttresses or similar structural supportspositioned in an interior of soil chamber 120. In the illustratedembodiment, a vent 134 a is located in a top portion of soil 130 justbelow cover 126. Vent 134 a may be used to vent/vacuum off-gases as theyrise through soil 130. In the illustrated embodiment, soil chamber 120is completely filled with soil 130 such that soil 130 abuts an undersideof cover 126. In one embodiment, treatment cells (e.g., soil chambers)may be modular such that they can be constructed, transported orotherwise used independent of one another or coupled to one another. Forexample, one or more soil chambers (e.g., soil chambers 120 a and 120 b)may include modular connection joints for mechanical, electrical and/orfluid conveyance components to enable rapid deployment, assembly anddisassembly of one or more soil chambers. In such an embodiment, one ormore of the modular soil chambers may be used in a soil chamber system.

Moving soil into and out of the soil chamber typically creates its ownset of difficulties. For example, where large amounts of soil are beingremediated, soil loading vehicles and equipment typically need to beused to transport soil into and out of the soil chamber. For example, afront end loader, bulldozer, dump truck or conveyor may be used todeposit contaminated soil into the soil chamber before remediation andused to remove the remediated soil after remediation. Accordingly, it isdesirable to reduce the number and amount of obstructions within thesoil chamber such that loading vehicles and equipment can easily depositand remove the soil without having to maneuver around interior pipingand appurtenances within the soil chamber. Further, it is generallydesirable to provide access to the soil chamber such that soil loadingvehicles and equipment can easily deposit soil in and remove the soilfrom the soil chamber. For example, in one embodiment, the soil chambermay include a permanent opening, such as a three sided rectangular soilchamber having an open end with no wall or a two-sided channel forming asoil chamber and having no end walls, such that loading vehicles andequipment may drive into and through the soil chamber. In oneembodiment, the soil chamber may include a portion of the walls thatmoves (e.g., slide or swing open) to allow loading vehicles andequipment to access (e.g., drive in or through) the soil chamber. Forexample one or more end walls of a rectangular chamber that completelyenclose the sides of the soil chamber may be swung, slid or folded toprovide an opening into the soil chamber. Such an opening may enablesoil loading vehicles and equipment, a front end loader, bulldozer, dumptruck or conveyor, to be moved into the soil chamber. In an embodimentin which heaters are located in the walls and/or floors, and no heatersor similar obstructions are present in the interior of the soil chamber,the loading vehicles and equipment may move freely with little or noobstruction, reducing the time for soil loading and unloading, therebyreducing the overall time and cost of a soil remediation cycle.

FIG. 4A is a diagram that illustrates a plan view of soil chamber system110 including at least a portion of the walls 122 that is movable, inaccordance with one or more embodiments of the present technique. Movinga portion of the walls 122 may enable soil moving vehicles and/orequipment 150 to access an interior of soil chamber 120. In theillustrated embodiment, soil chamber system 110 includes a rectangularsoil chamber having four walls 122. Walls 122 include two side walls 152and two end walls 154. Side walls 152 are positioned parallel to oneanother and spaced apart from one another to form a channel between themthat includes soil chamber 120. End walls 154 span the distance betweenends of side walls 152. Side walls 152 and end walls 154 may includefeatures such as those described herein with regard to walls 122. In theillustrated embodiment, an end wall 154 is movable from a closedposition to an open position. In the closed position, end wall closesthe gap between side walls 152 to enclose that portion of soil chamber120. In the closed position, end wall 154 may provide a physical barrierto retain soil, may inhibit the loss of heat from soil in soil chamber120, or may provide heat to the soil in soil chamber 120. In the openposition, end wall 154 may be moved to provide an opening into soilchamber 120. The provided opening may enable inspection of an interiorregion of soil chamber 120 and/or may enable soil loading equipment 150access to an interior of soil chamber 120 such that soil can be providedin or removed from soil chamber 120. For example, soil moving vehiclesand/or equipment 150 may travel into and out of soil chamber 120 in thedirection of arrow 155. In one embodiment, end walls 154 may be rotatedbetween the opened and closed positions as indicated by arrow 156. Forexample, end wall 154 may be hinged to side wall 152. In one embodiment,end wall 154 may be slid between the opened and closed positions asindicated by arrow 158. For example, end wall 154 may slide on tracks orguides parallel to its direction of travel, sideways or upward. Otherembodiments may include folding or swinging of end wall in any varietyof manners. In one embodiment, additional moveable wall portions may beprovided. For example, both ends wall 154 may be movable. Such anarrangement may enable soil moving vehicles and equipment 150 to passcompletely through soil chamber 120. In one embodiment, a dump truck candrive in a first end of soil chamber 120, dump a load of contaminatedsoil, and continue to drive through the second end of soil chamber 120without having to turn around.

FIG. 4B is a diagram of an end view of soil chamber 120 that illustratesa movable floor in accordance with one or more embodiments of thepresent technique. In the illustrated embodiment, floor 124 includes twomovable floor portions 124 a and 124 b. As depicted, floor portions 124a and 124 b may rotate downward to enable soil to be removed through abottom of chamber 120. For example, soil may be loaded into a soilchamber 120 with floor 124 closed, the soil heated/treated, and floor124 swung open to allow soil to pour out of soil chamber 120. Such anembodiment may include soil chamber system 110 being elevated such thatsoil 130 can drop from soil chamber 120. In one embodiment, soil chambermay be elevated such that a track, railcar, conveyor belt or similarloading device can be positioned underneath floor 124 to accept thefalling soil 130. In an embodiment in which soil chamber system 110 isportable, soil chamber 120 may be moved and positioned over a depositarea, and floor 124 opened to dump soil 130 at the deposit area.

Certain components of soil remediation system 110 may be housed in oneor more non-movable walls. For example, in one embodiment, an end wall154 may house ventilation system 114, fluid system 116, and/or controlsystem 112. End wall 154 may also include manifolds and similarconnections to heaters 132, vents 134, and the like. End wall 154 may bemovable, such that connections can be left in place and do not have tobe reestablished each time the wall is moved. Other walls 122 maysimilarly house components.

Soil remediation system 100 may be provided as a permanent orsemi-permanent fixture or may be provided as a portable unit. Forexample, where remediation system 100 is permanent or semi-permanent,soil remediation system 100 may be constructed on-site or otherwiseprovided to site such that is not readily movable. In anotherembodiment, soil remediation system 100 may be portable. For example,soil remediation system 100 may include a portable trailer, container orskid that includes some, substantially all or all of the components ofsoil remediation system 100. For example, soil remediation system 100may include a self-contained structure/container that can be towed fromone site to another. Portability may increase the flexibility of thedescribed technique by enabling scalability of soil remediation. Forexample, any number of soil remediation systems 100 can be provided orremoved from a site with little to no construction effort and lead time.

Turning now to FIG. 5, provided is a method 200 of remediatingcontaminated soil in accordance with one or more embodiments of thepresent technique. Method 200 may be implemented using variousembodiments of soil remediation system 100 described herein. In theillustrated embodiment, method 200 includes providing a soil chamber, asdepicted at block 202. In one embodiment, providing a soil chamberincludes providing one or more soil chambers capable of heatingcontaminated soil for soil remediation. In one embodiment, providing asoil chamber includes providing one or more permanent, semi-permanent,or portable soil chamber systems. In one embodiment, providing a soilchamber includes providing a plurality of separate soil chambers and/ora soil chamber system including two or more adjacent soil chambershaving a shared wall.

Method 200 also includes providing contaminated soil, as depicted atblock 204. In one embodiment, providing contaminated soil includesmoving excavated soil to a soil chamber of soil remediation system. Forexample, where soil remediation system is provided on site for an exsitu remediation, soil is excavated and transported to the soilremediation system located on site. In another embodiment, contaminatedsoil may be excavated at one site and transported to a soil remediationsystem located offsite. In one embodiment, providing contaminated soilmay include providing soil into a soil chamber via an opening in a sideor end wall of the soil chamber. For example, soil loading vehicles andequipment may move and deposit soil into the soil chamber via an openingin its side/end walls. In one embodiment, the opening is created bymoving/opening a wall portion. For example, an end wall may be rotatedor slid open. In one embodiment, the opening may include a portion ofthe soil chamber not having a wall. Other embodiments may include theuse of conveyors or similar equipment to provide soil into the soilchamber without making use of an opening in the wall of the soilchamber. For example, a soil chamber cover may be removed, and soildeposited into the soil chamber from above. Once the soil chamber hasbeen filled sufficiently for remediation, openings in the soil chambermay be closed. For example, moveable wall portions may be closed and/ora soil chamber cover may be placed over the soil chamber. The soil maybe temporarily stored within the chamber prior to or followingtreatment.

In one embodiment, providing contaminated soil includes providing soilin containers into the soil chamber. For example, sacks of contaminatedsoil may be provided into the soil chamber. Sacks of soil may include“super sacks” of soil. Super sacks may include heavy-duty bulk sacks forthe containment and transport of contaminated soil. For example, supersacks may include four-foot by four-foot rectangular sacks capable ofcontaining up to about three-thousand pounds of soil or more. As anotherexample, drums of contaminated soil may be provided into the soilchamber, and the spaces between the drums filled with soil or otherporous media to aid thermal conduction. Super sacks or drums may enablesimplified transport of contaminated soil. In one embodiment, the entiresuper sack, including the soil and the super sack container material,are deposited into the soil chamber. The high temperatures may meltand/or dissolve the super sack container material during heating. Inanother embodiment, the entire drum, including the soil and drum withcover are deposited into the soil chamber or the drum covers may beloosened or punctured after placement in soil chamber to prevent overpressurization. Not having to open the super sack or drum may obviatethe need for additional dust and/or odor control measures during fillingof the soil chamber.

Method 200 also includes heating the contaminated soil, as depicted atblock 206. In one embodiment, heating the contaminated soil includesproviding heat to the soil in the soil chamber via heaters. In oneembodiment, heaters located in the walls and/or floor of the chambertransfer heat to a thermally conducting layer, which in turn distributesand transfers the heat to the soil. In one embodiment, heat may beprovided via similar heaters and/or thermally conducting plates locatedin a portion of all of the walls, a floor, and/or a soil chamber coverof the soil chamber. In one embodiment, heating the contaminated soilmay include providing gas or fluid into the soil chamber. Gas and fluidsmay be provided via a ventilation system and/or a fluid system. The gasor fluids may be delivered via vents located in the walls, the floor, orthe soil chamber cover of the soil chamber system. In one embodiment,heating the contaminated soil includes extracting vapors and/or liquidsfrom the soil chamber.

In one embodiment, heat from one soil chamber or soil chamber system isrecycled. For example, in one embodiment, heated gases or liquids fromone soil chamber or soil chamber system are routed to another soilchamber or soil chamber systems where the heated gases or liquids areused to heat soil contained in the other soil chamber or soil chambersystem.

Heating the contaminated soil may include heating the soil and/or thesoil chamber to a target temperature. In one embodiment, thermallyconducting layers of the soil chamber system are heated to temperaturesbetween about 300° C. and 700° C. This may create a hot, dry reactionzone along at least the walls and the bottom of the soil, wheredestruction reactions may contribute to lowering the COC concentrations.The use of a thermally conductive layer may distribute heat to the soilto reduce the likelihood of cool, untreated zones within or at the edgesof the treated soil volume, thereby facilitating uniform heating andtreatment of the soil.

In one embodiment, the target temperature is based on the highestboiling point COC that is known to be present in the soil. The soiltemperature may be elevated enough so that the vapor pressure of thehighest boiling-point compound increases to a point where it behaves asif it were a volatile compound. The compound may be extracted as a gasand removed from the soil and/or soil chamber and transported to anoff-gas treatment system for polishing. For example, if a PolycyclicAromatic Hydrocarbon (PAH) contaminated sediment contained bothnaphthalene having a boiling point of about 218° C., and other higherboiling point PAHs such as Benzo(a)Pyrene (B(a)P) having a boiling pointof about 495° C., and if it were necessary to achieve low post-treatmentconcentrations for both naphthalene and B(a)P, the target temperaturemay be established based on the boiling point of the higher-boilingcompound, B(a)P. A target temperature of 325° C. is typically consideredeffective for removal of a wide range of high-boiling SVOCs includingB(a)P, Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) and PolychlorinatedDibenzo-Dioxins and -Furans (PCDD/Fs), Pentachlorophenols (PCPs), andchlorinated pesticides or other Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)such as Dieldrin and Chlordane. For many VOCs, target temperatures maybe below or at the boiling point of water. In one embodiment, heatingthe soil to a target temperature in a range of about 50° C. to about500° C. is desirable. In one embodiment, heating the soil to a targettemperature in a range of about 300° C. to about 400° C. is desirable.

In one embodiment, heating the contaminated soil include providing andor monitoring various sensors. For example, thermocouples and/or soil orvapor sampling devices may be accessed, inserted into, and/or removed,via a port in the soil chamber system. In one embodiment, sensors orprobes may be provided integrally within soil chamber system 110 suchthat measurements can be acquired and monitored continuously and withouthaving to access an interior of chamber 120.

Method 200 also includes cooling the soil, as depicted at block 208. Inone embodiment, cooling the soil may include bringing the soil down to atemperature where it can be handled. For example, the soil may be cooledto about or below 150° C. so that it can be handled by soil loadingvehicles and equipment, and/or loading personnel. In one embodiment,cooling the soil includes spraying water or another cooling substance ontop of the soil pile to quench the high temperatures. In one embodiment,cooling gas or liquids may be delivered via a ventilation system, afluid system, and or vents located in the walls, floor, or cover of thesoil chamber. In one embodiment, a fluid may be delivered via a watersprinkler system. In some embodiments, soil may be cooled over severaldays.

Method 200 also includes removing soil, as depicted at block 210. In oneembodiment, removing the soil includes removing the now remediated soilfrom the soil chamber. In one embodiment, a portion of the soil chamberwall may be moved from a closed to an open position and soil loadingvehicle and equipment may be moved through the resulting opening in thewall to access, load and remove the remediated soil from the soilchamber. Where components of the soil remediation system are provided inthe walls/floors as opposed to in an interior of the soil chamber, soilmay be removed without having to remove much or any components from theinterior of the chamber. For example, heaters and vents may not beremoved because they are located in the walls, separated from theinterior of the soil chamber. In an embodiment that includes two or moresoil chambers arranged adjacent one another, soil for each of thechambers is unloaded in coordination to maintain complementary forces oneither side of the wall. For example, instead of completely emptying onesoil chamber, each soil chamber may be incrementally emptied such thatsoil is generally present or removed on opposite sides of an interiorwall. In one embodiment, a cover may be removed (e.g., moved or rolledoff) to enable equipment to access and unload the remediated soil. Inone embodiment, removing soil may include opening a bottom floor of soilchamber to enable soil to be dumped from the soil chamber. In oneembodiment, the remediated soil may be replaced into an area wherecontaminated soil has been excavated.

In one embodiment, once the remediated soil is removed, the soil chambermay be prepared and used for the remediation of another batch ofcontaminated soil. For example, the remediation method may return toproviding contaminated soil, as depicted at block 204. The steps ofheating, cooling and removing the soil may once again be accomplished.Such a cycle may be continued until soil remediation is no longerneeded, for example, once all of the soil at a site has been remediatedor the soil remediation system 100 is to be used at another location.

Method 200 also includes removing the soil chamber, as depicted at block212. In one embodiment removing the soil chamber may include disassemblyand/or removal of the soil remediation system, including the soilchamber. Although not completed after each soil remediation cycle, thesoil remediation system may be disassembled and/or removed from a sitewhen soil remediation is complete and/or the soil remediation system isno longer needed. In one embodiment, at least a portion of the soilremediation system may be portable, and removing the soil chamber mayinclude towing away at least the portable portion of the soilremediation system. In one embodiment, step 212 may be omitted wheresoil treatment system 100 is a fixed, permanently or semi-permanentlyinstalled facility.

In one embodiment, one or more steps of method 200 may be performed ator nearly at the same time. Where multiple soil chamber systems and/orsoil chambers are available at a site, more than one cycle may beperformed simultaneously For example, where a soil chamber systemincludes two soil chambers, they can be alternated in use. In otherwords, a first chamber may be heating the soil while a second chamber isbeing emptied and reloaded. When the first chamber has completed theremediation heating and cooling, it may be unloaded and reloaded whilethe second chamber is in the process of heating the contaminated soil.Use of multiple chambers in an alternating cycle may enable an increasedthroughput as simultaneous cycles may be performed without having towait for one cycle to finish before a chamber can be emptied andreloaded, thus making more efficient use of electrical and processequipment, as well as loading/unloading equipment and labor.

Further modifications and alternative embodiments of various aspects ofthe invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view ofthis description. Accordingly, this description is to be construed asillustrative only and is for the purpose of teaching those skilled inthe art the general manner of carrying out the invention. It is to beunderstood that the forms of the invention shown and described hereinare to be taken as examples of embodiments. Elements and materials maybe substituted for those illustrated and described herein, parts andprocesses may be reversed or omitted, and certain features of theinvention may be utilized independently, all as would be apparent to oneskilled in the art after having the benefit of this description of theinvention. Changes may be made in the elements described herein withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention as described in thefollowing claims. The words “include”, “including”, and “includes” meanincluding, but not limited to. As used in this specification, thesingular forms “a”, “an” and “the” include plural referents unless thecontent clearly indicates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to “aheater” includes a combination of two or more heaters.

1. A method for treating contaminated soil, comprising: providingcontaminated soil in a soil chamber comprising: at least one wall and atleast one floor; at least one heater coupled to or inside of at leastone of the walls, wherein at least one of the walls at least partiallycomprises a thermally conductive material configured to transfer heatfrom at least one of the heaters to an interior of the soil chamber; andat least one substantially elongated floor heater coupled to or in thefloor, wherein at least one of the walls at least partially encloses aninterior of the soil chamber, and wherein at least one of the walls isconfigured to move between a closed position during heating of the soilchamber, and an open position that allows a soil moving vehicle toaccess an interior of the soil chamber to provide or remove soil to andfrom the soil chamber; and heating the contaminated soil within the soilchamber to substantially reduce the level of contaminants in thecontaminated soil.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprisingproviding gas into the soil chamber to facilitate oxidation of compoundswithin the soil.
 3. The method of claim 1, further comprising heatingthe contaminated soil to a temperature in a range of about 50 degreesCelsius to about 500 degrees Celsius.
 4. The method of claim 1, whereinproviding contaminated soil in the soil chamber comprises providing oneor more sacks, cartons or drums comprising contaminated soil in the soilchamber.
 5. The method of claim 4, further comprising heating to asufficient temperature to oxidize at least a portion of one or moresacks or cartons.
 6. The method of claim 1, further comprising using avehicle to load the contaminated soil into the soil chamber.
 7. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the soil chamber is portable, and the soilchamber is moved to a site proximate to the contaminated soil prior toproviding the contaminated soil in the soil chamber.
 8. The method ofclaim 1, wherein at least 10% of an interior surface of at least onewall comprises the thermally conductive material.
 9. The method of claim1, wherein the soil chamber further comprises: at least one cover; atleast one vapor collection pipe positioned adjacent the at least onecover; and at least one fluid injection/extraction pipe or screenadjacent to the interior of the soil chamber.
 10. A contaminated soiltreatment system, comprising: a soil chamber comprising: at least onewall and at least one floor; at least one heater coupled to or inside ofat least one of the walls, wherein at least one of the walls at leastpartially comprises a thermally conductive material configured totransfer heat from at least one of the heaters to an interior of thesoil chamber; and at least one substantially elongated floor heatercoupled to or in the floor, wherein two or more of the walls enclose aninterior of the soil chamber, and wherein at least one of the walls isconfigured to move between a closed position during heating of the soilchamber, and an open position that allows a soil moving vehicle toaccess an interior of the soil chamber to provide or remove soil to andfrom the soil chamber.
 11. The method of claim 1, wherein the soilchamber further comprises: at least one cover; at least one vaporcollection pipe positioned adjacent the at least one cover; and at leastone fluid injection/extraction pipe or screen adjacent to the interiorof the soil chamber.
 12. The contaminated soil treatment system of claim10, wherein the floor comprises a thermally conductive materialconfigured to transfer heat from one or more of the substantiallyelongated floor heaters to an interior of the soil chamber.
 13. Thecontaminated soil treatment system of claim 10, wherein the thermallyconductive material comprises a substantially planar metal plate, sheet,or layer.
 14. The contaminated soil treatment system of claim 10,wherein at least a portion of the thermally conductive material isconfigured to be positioned between at least one of the heaters and soilprovided in an interior of the soil chamber during use.
 15. Thecontaminated soil treatment system of claim 10, wherein a portion of theat least one of the walls is configured to inhibit contact between atleast one or more of the heaters, and soil provided in an interior ofthe soil chamber during use.
 16. The contaminated soil treatment systemof claim 10, wherein at least one heater comprises a substantiallyelongated heating element.
 17. The contaminated soil treatment system ofclaim 10, wherein at least one wall comprises two substantiallyelongated heaters, wherein at least a portion of the thermallyconductive material is configured to be positioned between at least oneof the two substantially elongated heaters and soil provided in aninterior of the soil chamber during use, and wherein the thermallyconductive material is configured to transmit heat from the twosubstantially elongated heaters to the soil during use.
 18. Thecontaminated soil treatment system of claim 10, wherein at least two ofthe walls are spaced a distance apart from one another to define achannel for the deposition of soil.
 19. The contaminated soil treatmentsystem of claim 10, wherein the soil chamber is at least two meters wideand at least one meter high.
 20. The contaminated soil treatment systemof claim 10, comprising four of the walls arranged to enclose at least aportion of the soil chamber.
 21. The contaminated soil treatment systemof claim 10, wherein at least 10% of an interior surface of at least onewall comprises the thermally conductive material.
 22. The soil treatmentsystem of claim 10, further comprising a second soil chamber adjacent tothe soil chamber, wherein the two soil chambers are separated by ashared wall.
 23. The soil treatment system of claim 10, wherein aninterior of the soil chamber is defined by interior surfaces of the atleast one wall, a floor and a cover, and wherein a majority of heatprovided to the soil chamber is configured to originate from one or moreheaters that are separated from the interior of the soil chamber by oneor more heat conducting plates.
 24. The soil treatment system of claim10, further comprising a gas input system configured to allow gas toenter an interior of the soil chamber during use.
 25. The soil treatmentsystem of claim 24, wherein the gas input system comprises at least oneof a compressor, low pressure blower, or an open vent and conduitconnected to one or more gas inlets of the soil chamber.
 26. The soiltreatment system of claim 10, further comprising a gas outlet systemconfigured to allow gas and/or vapors to exit from an interior of thesoil chamber during use.
 27. The soil treatment system of claim 10,further comprising insulation coupled to an exterior of the soil chamberduring use.
 28. A contaminated soil treatment system, comprising: a soilchamber configured to contain soil during use, comprising at least twowalls, that enclose an interior portion of the soil chamber, wherein theat least one of the two walls comprises: at least two substantiallyelongated heaters; and one or more heat conducting plates positionedbetween one or more of the substantially elongated heaters and theinterior of the chamber such that one or more of the substantiallyelongated heaters is in contact or near contact with the heat conductingplates, wherein a majority of heat provided to the soil chamberoriginates from one or more of the substantially elongated heaters thatare separated from the interior of the soil chamber by one or more heatconducting plates, and wherein at least one of the walls is configuredto move between a closed position during heating of the soil chamber,and an open position that allows a soil moving vehicle to access aninterior of the soil chamber to provide or remove soil to and from thesoil chamber.
 29. The soil treatment system of claim 28, wherein theheat conducting plates comprise a substantially planar metal plate orsheet.
 30. The soil treatment system of claim 28, wherein at least oneof the walls is configured to inhibit contact between one or more of thesubstantially elongated heaters and soil provided in the soil chamber.31. The contaminated soil treatment system of claim 28, wherein at least10% of an interior surface of at least one of the walls comprises one ormore heat conducting plates.
 32. The soil treatment system of claim 28,further comprising a floor having at least one substantially elongatedfloor heater coupled to or in the floor, wherein the floor comprises oneor more heat conducting plates positioned between one or more of thesubstantially elongated floor heaters and an interior of the chamberconfigured to contain soil during use, and wherein the one or more heatconducting plates are configured to transfer heat from one or more ofthe substantially elongated floor heaters to an interior of the soilchamber.